The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-24
WOMEN PLEAD.
The W. c. r. U. Issues An Address to Liquor
Dealers.

Dealers
CHICAGO, March 1S-Tho National WON
aa's Temperance Union issued an address.
yesterday to the brewers, distiIlers, recti-
ners, Wholesale dealers and saloon-keepers.
in accordance with q resolution adopted at
tho annual convention in Minneapolis last
October. II is in the form Of = plea, and
the people 70 whom 1t 10 directed are sd-
dressed as "brothers." It says:
From the days Of tho crusade in 1874 until
this day We have been In the habit Of plead
ng with you personally and BY letter and ad-
dress 70 give up the business Of making and
selling intsxicating liquors ss drink And to-
your credit be it said. that In the vast major
ity Of Instances ycu have treated Us not only
with poALsness but with kindness. In our
great and successful campaigns for prohibition
(for aono Of them have failed, since oven In
Ohio, although We have not had . consutu-
tionA majority, We had over $4,000 votes for
prohibition 70 less than 100 0os for license, and
IN Kansas, Maine, Iowa and Rhode Island, we
gained The amendment in all these campaigns),- -
We appeal TO you 70 say II We have ever man
tfested spirit Of harshnoss or brsvsdo. On,
tho contrary We have spoken considerably Of
you ss men, reserving our denuncistions for
the business in which you are engaged, for the
laws By which legal status Ia accorded to-
that business, for the Legislatures which enact
behind this throne OF iniQuity and shame.
The address declares that many OF the
men engaged in the liquor trafic are pos
sessed Of the most generous attributes, but
among them are TO be found some Of the
most unfortunate victims OF drink. 1t con-
tinues:
In almost every State and Territory we have
sent out our appeal TO the Legislature for pro-
lection from this curse, and though often pre-
viously disappointed our plea hss aot been
altogether in vain. For thirteen years We have
petitioned Congress and OF last secured in the
Scientific Temperance Education bill the first
general temperance legislation known to its
annals. while our pi:iful cry to the voters OF the
Nation has been responded 70 by local option
laws and constitutional amendments covering
nearly half the inhabited area OF the republic
But We have never until now come with the uni
ted voices of the white ribbon womon 10 that
small fl action OF men who mako and sell the
poisonous drink against which we are fighting
The drinks thnt nerve with dangerous strength
arms so much stronger than our own and at the
same time so steal away the brain that ought
70 guide those manly arms, that they are no
longer woman's shelter and protection, but her
worst enemy. We bring our plea, then, straight
10 the source OF wonans direst calamity aid,
sorrow, and lay 1t st Jour feet. BY the testi-
mony Of courts and juries the liquor trsfsc Is
tho cause OF eighty per cent Of all crime and
ninety per cent. of all the pauperism in this
country. We know you say: ut is great in
dustry snd pays enormous revenue to the State. ~
But We know also that for every dollar il puts
into the public treasury two have been paid out
IN securing the trial OF criminals IL creates and
in maintaining the pauperism ig produces.
The address discusses the question as to-
whether prohibition prohibits, and declares
that experience proves that 1t does in all
practical senses and that this fact is real
lied and acknowledged by the msnufactur-
ers. 1t quotes from the resolutions passed
by liquor men IN favor OF license, says their
Endorsement Of license condemns the system
and concludes:
We have here addressed the manufacturer
and Wholesale dealer as well as the dispenser OF
strong drink. because we think undue share
of denunciation has fallen on the saloon keeper,
who is but the catspaw 10 take out Of the fire
the chestnuts ef the rich man back Of him.
Our observation teaches US that the stock and
fixtures OF the saloon usually belong 70 the
brewer, distiller wholesale dealer who sets
up In business" some man. ignorant and poor
who sells what the capitalist furnishes Nor
ally this rich man is under deeper condemna-
ton than his less enlightened representative
who pours out the drink. collects the price
thereof, and hands over the lions share of
profit TO the manufacturer and tho Govern
mont